ARTIST STATEMENT
I travel alone challenging notions of fear, equality, and advocate for religious freedom in this divisive global climate. My photography and documentary films seek to promote cultural inclusion by searching for commonalities between different cultures. I founded The Peace Caravan Project to bear witness to the disappearing cultures from Jerusalem, Israel to Xi’an, China. I travel solo by car, foot, horse, and camel in my quest to explore my connection to the worlds major religions.
Since 1996, I have photographed in the mosques, temples and churches in China, India, Turkey, Afghanistan, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Egypt and Uganda. I strive to create change in others’ lives through information and inspiration. To promote understanding and acceptance of all individuals. To honor people’s religious customs by providing opportunities to “see ourselves in the other,” so a new way to peace is revealed. I inspire Empathy to nourish principles of international cooperation, exchange cultural values, and foster the equality of all peoples.
My photographs and films of people in prayer reminds us that while we may be different, we can share similar loves, fears, hopes, and dreams. I bear witness to humanity’s disappearing cultures as modernization threatens traditional ways of life. The resulting film screenings, exhibitions books and multi-media presentations emboldens opportunities for dialogues by addressing prejudices and misconceptions.
My cameras point to the unvarnished truths, to depict honestly, the people who live out of the mainstream of history.
Marla Mossman Founder/Artistic Director
Peace Partnership International
Forging Alliance to Co-Create a Culture of Peace
MARLA'S BIO
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Avidly interested in promoting arts and education, Marla Mossman is an international filmmaker, photographer and artist. Since 1996 she has traveled extensively documenting the human condition. Marla is the Founder and Director of the Peace Caravan Project that documents the places of historical and religious significance along ancient trade routes.
Mossman's most recent film is titled: KAWOMERA: Plant, Pray, Partner for Peace was awarded the 2014 Best Documentary Short at the NY/LA International Film Festival and The Film Festival Peace, Inspiration and Equality (FFPIE) The International Outstanding Excellence Award.
She traveled to Uganda to film and photograph the origins of the ancient trade routes at the source of the Nile River. While there, she documented an infer-faith community of coffee farmers and exporters living in peaceful co-existence.
Her first film is titled Peace Caravan: Journey Along the Silk Road Xinjiang Province, China, and addresses the disappearing culture of the Uyghur Population who reside in the remote regions of far western China.In 2006 Mossman was awarded a fiscal sponsorship with the New York Foundation for the Arts and through NYFA: As a result, The Peace Caravan Project is operated as a non-profit organization.
In 2005 Marla Mossman traveled to Afghanistan to work with the Ministers from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Education in Kabul and Bamiyan Province. She was the first foreigner and woman to visit Waras, a remote part of Central Afghanistan, traveling on horseback, donkey and mule.
Marla believes that there is a global need for openness and cultural exchange to help gain the mutual respect and cooperation necessary for World Peace. The Peace Caravan Project endeavors to inform and inspire others to achieve understanding, tolerance and acceptance.
Through her journey traveling alone, Marla sets an example to the people that she meets on the road. Through her photography exhibitions, lecures and multimedia presentations, books and documentary films, she generates her passion to her audiences here at home. Marla Mossman’s motto is; “Trust is the currency of the solo traveler.”